Chapter 128 Riding a Tractor to Sell Snails Again

These past two days, Ji Xuening has been very busy because he became the militia company commander.

Besides training with the militia, they also had to be on duty, stand guard, conduct reconnaissance, and feed the pigs and do carpentry every day after returning home.

Wang Yuqing was asleep when he returned, and before he was even fully awake in the morning, he had already left.

Today happened to be market day, and Wang Yuqing got up early again to stir-fry snails. Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming were very sensible and obedient, and they got up early to help.

I had originally planned to push the wooden cart to the market to sell it, but today I hitched a ride with Ji Xuening and Wang Shuo.

It's July, the sun is blazing, the river water is scalding hot, and the soil in the fields is steaming. Apart from a rain at the beginning of the month, there hasn't been a second rain since.

The corn in the field was dying of drought. If it could be watered, there would be a harvest; if it couldn't be watered, there would be no harvest at all. So, the old Party Secretary asked Ji Xuening and Wang Shuo to drive a tractor to the commune to borrow a water pump.

When Ji Xuening found out, he immediately ran home to tell Wang Yuqing, who happened to have put several baskets of snails on the cart.

Along the way, Wang Shuo initially drove the tractor, but he wasn't very good at it, driving erratically and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Ouch, ouch... come back... ouch..."

Sitting on the tractor, Wang Yuqing held onto her snails, afraid of spilling them. Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming were so dizzy from the shaking that they almost vomited.

Ji Xuening couldn't stand it any longer and said, "I'll do it."

Wang Shuo said, "This thing isn't as easy to drive as a Geely."

As soon as Ji Xuening sat down, the entire hand-held tractor started running smoothly.

Wang Shuo sat in the back of the car without any hesitation, picked up a bamboo skewer and started eating snails, occasionally glancing at the mountains on both sides and sighing, "Ah, life is so pleasant."

After eating for a while, he said, "I have to say, this stuff is really delicious, the more I eat, the more I want to eat. Your skills are really good, no wonder you can make money from it."

Ji Xiaoming whispered, "Uncle Wang, if you eat any more, there won't be any left."

Wang Shuo was displeased: "You're such a stingy kid. Your parents never complained that I eat too much."

As they approached the commune, Wang Shuo suddenly asked in a strange tone, "What do you think of Comrade Tang Wan?"

Wang Yuqing smiled and said, "Of course she's beautiful, has a great temperament, is kind, righteous, and I admire her very much!"

Hearing Wang Yuqing's praise, Wang Shuo's rugged face was full of smiles. He chuckled and said, "I think so too. I've never met such a good woman since I was born...she's good in every way."

These words inadvertently revealed his true feelings.

Wang Yuqing naturally understood. She paused for a few seconds before speaking, "She is indeed very good. She is devoted and loyal in love. She must love Peng Hong very much. She is willing to be filial to his parents for him and vowed never to marry, even though they haven't officially registered their marriage yet. Therefore, I admire her very much..."

After saying that, she looked at Wang Shuo, seemingly implying something: "I think, given her personality, she really won't remarry."

Wang Shuo was a smart man. He understood what Wang Yuqing meant. His heart clenched slowly, and a faint smile flashed in his eyes. He said in a light voice, "That's just how fierce she is. It's good."

After that, he stopped talking and even stopped eating the snails.

Wang Yuqing sighed inwardly. If this were in the new society, she would definitely have advised Tang Wan. Unfortunately, this was 1976, and more importantly, it was Tang Wan's own opinion.

When they arrived at the commune, Wang Shuo said, "I'm going to the commune by myself to borrow a water pump and visit my master. Lao Ji, why don't you take your wife to the market, or go with her to sell things? I need to go home. I'll wait for you at the commune."

After saying that, he patted Ji Xuening on the shoulder: "Don't worry, it's okay. If anyone dares to say a word against you, I'll go up and beat them up. Even the director won't dare to say anything to you!"

Ji Xuening agreed: "Okay."

However, Wang Yuqing and Ji Xuening did not go directly to the market because they still needed to register their household in the commune. After three days, the household registration process was almost completed. They also collected the five catties of sugar coupons, two zhang of cloth coupons, half a catty of oil coupons, and two catties of cotton coupons that were specially provided for their wedding.

Wang Shuo, knowing this was good, beamed with joy: "Tsk tsk, I'm so envious. Best wishes to you both. When you have your belated wedding banquet, let me get a seat at the head table."

Ji Xuening's brows relaxed: "Yes, I will."

After the two of them collected the tickets, they went directly to the supply and marketing cooperative and redeemed all the goods.

Wang Yuqing walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative, carrying a large pile of things. She was still a little unsettled. Was she really getting married? Had she already received all the gifts?

Although there aren't many things, there's a lot to say about this era. I have to admit that although we're poor now, the welfare system is really good.

Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming waited outside.

When Wang Yuqing saw this, he handed the candy to the two brothers. The two brothers were reluctant to eat a single piece, but Ji Daming said, "These are for others to eat."

Wang Yuqing said, "It's okay, you can eat them too. I'll allow each of you to have two!"

Ji Xiaoming's eyes lit up, and he had just reached out to take out two candies when Ji Daming shoved them back at him: "No way, Mom and Dad are getting married, and when we go back to the brigade, we'll have to give out candies to everyone. If we eat them, there won't be enough left."

It wasn't until Ji Xuening spoke up that Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming each ate one.

When I went to the market, all the snails were sold out again.

The first time it sold for ten yuan, the second time for twenty-five yuan, and this time it sold for thirty-five yuan. Not only were Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming dumbfounded, but even Ji Xuening was shocked.

Although he highly praised Wang Yuqing's cooking skills and eloquence, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise when he saw how much money they made in one go: "Yuqing, you are amazing!"

Wang Yuqing raised an eyebrow at him: "I have something even more amazing."

Ji Xuening blushed inexplicably.

While selling snails, Wang Yuqing met Aunt Huang. From her, Wang Yuqing learned that Wang Jiandong and Lin Xuemei had been taken away by the factory's militia for questioning. Although there was no evidence to support Wang Yuqing's claims about selling their children and believing in superstition, their character and conduct had deteriorated. In the end, the two were assigned to clean the factory's men's and women's bathhouses and toilets for two months without pay.

Even if things recover a month later, the salary will be reduced from level four to level one, which is 33 yuan per month.

Aunt Huang said with a smile, "Now, everyone in the factory laughs at them when they see them. The couple can't even hold their heads up high anymore."

Wang Yuqing packed a bag of snails and gave it to Aunt Huang for free. Aunt Huang smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite? I'll accept it then."

In addition, Wang Yuqing also exchanged five yuan for three jin of sugar coupons from Grandma Huang.

She then bought three catties of candy with Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming, and said with a smile, "These three catties of candy are for you and Meimei. Eat as much as you want, but be careful not to ruin your teeth!"

Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming were overjoyed. Ji Daming couldn't wait to start eating, while Ji Daming, with tears in his eyes, said, "Mom, thank you. You're so kind."

On the way back, Wang Yuqing happily counted the money. Although it was always thirty yuan no matter how she counted it, the feeling was wonderful. This was money she had earned herself, which was much better than when she was working and her salary was deposited into her bank account.

She calculated that she had nine yuan and three jiao left at home, and adding one more would make it thirty-nine yuan and three jiao.

When they arrived at the commune, Wang Shuo was waiting for them. He jumped onto the tractor, took four eggs out of his pocket, and handed them to them, saying, "Here, have some eggs, one for each of you."

Neither Ji Daming nor Ji Xiaoming dared to reach out and take it.

They only reached out and took the eggs at Wang Yuqing's prompting.

Wang Shuo chuckled, "Eat up, this is what my mom gave me. She cooked six for me to take on the road. See, I'm not just eating for free. I ate your snails, so I'll give each of you an egg in return."

These words made Ji Xiaoming blush.

Wang Yuqing also took the eggs that Ji Xuening had given her, but she put them in her pocket without eating them. Ji Daming and Ji Xiaoming were also reluctant to eat them, as the two brothers wanted to take them back and share them with Ji Meimei and their great-grandmother.

Wang Shuo felt his pocket; there were two eggs inside, which he had left for Tang Wan.